News

Journalists Detained For Allegedly Defaming Kwara Gov Get Bail

Published

3 years ago

October 19, 2022

Editor

An Ilorin Magistrate Court on Wednesday granted bail to two detained journalist siblings, Dare Akogun and Abdulrasheed Akogun, for allegedly defaming and inciting the public against the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Magistrate Bio Saliu admitted the two journalists to a bail of N500,000 each and a surety each with landed property in Ilorin, among others requests.

The detained journalists were brought to court unchained around 10:15 am with sympathisers, colleagues and family members flooding the court premises.

There was a mild drama between the police prosecutor and the representative of the office of the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice over the way and manner the case was taken over by the office of the Attorney General.

Representative of the office of Attorney General, Abdulmumeen Busari, had asked the court to grant him at least 24 hours to study the case, having just taken over the matter, to enable him be in good standing on the bail application.

Busari also said that it would be unfair on his part, if was denied the request because he needed to give a fair hearing in the case.

But Counsel to the defendants, Barrister C.N. Olaitan, opposed the submission saying, “I vehemently oppose that application asking for 24 hours to respond.

“The operative word in the content of their taking over the matter is to take over and continue. So it’s either they swim or sink with whatever action that had been taken. The CP has been duly served since Monday and the 48 hours have started running since then.

“On the face of the motion papers, today has been fixed for application of the bail to be heard so the application of the Attorney General is ill-conceived and brought in bad faith.”

He added, “On the issue of fair hearing cited by the representative of the Attorney General, it means opportunity should be given to both parties, and once opportunity has been given and a party refuses to take advantage of the opportunity, he can’t cry foul of being denied fair hearing.

“The liberty of the defendants is at stake and their application is to continue to incarcerate the suspects in prison custody. It’s their constitutional rights to receive the bail, so I urged the court to refuse the application of the office of the AG.”

The defendants’ counsel also said that the prosecution was duly served in the bail application and that their refusal to file any counter was an admission of all the deposition in the bail application.

He, therefore, asked the court to admit the defendants to bail on liberal ground.

Magistrate Bio in his ruling granted bail to the defendants and adjourned the case till November 23,2022 for further hearing.

It would be recalled that the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, through a petition to the Commissioner of Police, accused the duo of defamation and inciting the public against the government.

Ajakaye alleged that AbdulRasheed posted a comment on the popular WhatsApp platform, Kwara Commission, accusing the government of being most corrupt and of facilitating N15 million to prosecute the last election of the Kwara state council election of the Nigerian Union of Journalist.

The PUNCH noted that during the intervention of Kwara State Police Commissioner, Paul Odama, he advised that the two defendants should write apology letter to the governor but the duo claimed that the apology could be used against them both now and in the future by the government.

The defendants further claimed during the intervention that they have evidences to proof their claims, and were ready to press the charges against the state government; a development that made the police commissioner to order the prosecution of the case.

News

Court Bars CCETC From Entering Ossiomo Land, Using Its Property

Published

25 seconds ago

September 23, 2025

Editor

An Edo State High Court in Benin has restrained Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited (CCETC) from entering the land of Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited pending the hearing and determination of motion of notice.

Hon. Justice Mary Itsueli—vacation judge, gave the restraining order in an ex-perte motion filed before the Honourable Court by Emmanuel Usoh, counsel to Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited.

In the suit marked: B/242/2025, Ossiomo Investment Limited, Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited, Ossiomo Offsites and Utility Limited, Quadrant Gas Development Company Limited are the claimants while Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited (CCETC) stands as defendant.

Usoh had, on behalf of Ossiomo Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited, approached the court, sought an interim injunction restraining CCETC from gaining access to the land or utilising any property belonging to the claimant.

Usoh sought an interim order restraining “the Defendant whether by itself, agents, representatives, Directors, staff, privies assigns, or anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described from parading itself as a member or a shareholder of the 2nd Claimant or relying o using the Joint Venture Agreement pending the hearing and determination o the Motion on Notice.”

In the enrollment of order dated September 11, 2025, Justice Itsueli, said having “given a most careful consideration to the application, supporting affidavit and annexures, I am minded to grant the interim order of injunction.”

The vacation judge, therefore, ordered that, “The Defendant whether by itself, privies, assigns and anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described are restrained from accessing, utilizing the infrastructure of the Claimants including the 33KVA lines, gas engines and gas infrastructure built by the Claimants to supply gas to the power plant and generate electricity supply whether by bulk sales or transmission to corporate entities or individuals in Edo State pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.”

Hon. Itsueli also ordered “the Defendant whether by itself, agents, representatives, Directors, staff, privies, assigns, or anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described are restrained from parading themselves member or shareholder of the 2nd Claimant or relying or using the Joint Venture Agreement pending the pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.”

Recall that Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited and CCETC have been in ownership tussle which led to the power plant being shut down on September 1, 2025.

Speaking during a press briefing on the latest in the power tussle between Ossiomo and its investment partners, Usoh said, CCETC, having aware of the restraining order, had so far approached the arbitrary panel in Singapore.

He said: “CCETC, being aware of the restraining order, also immediately approached the arbitrary panel for arbitration in Singapore. The rationale behind this update is for the whole world to know that Singapore, being the seat of economics arbitration globally, is aware of the issues happening between Ossiomo and CCETC. We had the opportunity of seeing the copy of the arbitration, and we are replying accordingly.”

On Ossiomo and Edo State Government, Usoh disclosed: “Our relationship with the Edo State Government is what we call Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Ossiomo develops power and sells to Edo State Government at market value. They are our landlord, we cannot owe grudge against the government. My appeal to the government is to do business with us so that everyone in Edo will benefit.”

News

IPF Celebrates Otuaro On His Birthday Anniversary

Published

7 hours ago

September 23, 2025

Editor

The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has felicitated with Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, on the occasion of his birthday.

A statement issued by the secretary of the body, Tare Magbei, commended Otuaro for his “steady leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme,” which according to the forum has “continued to strengthen peace, rehabilitation, and development in the Niger Delta.”

“Your efforts in providing opportunities for ex-agitators and in advancing stability across the region stand as clear evidence of your dedication to the people and progress of our land.

“As you mark this new year of life, we join your family, friends, and well-wishers in praying for good health, wisdom, and greater success in the service of the Niger Delta and Nigeria.”

News

JUST IN: Okpehbolo Appoints New VC For AAU

Published

19 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Edo State governor, Monday Okpehbolo, has approved the appointment of Professor (Mrs.) Eunice Eboserehimen Omonzejie as the new Vice-Chancellor of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.

A statement issued late night by Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, said her appointment takes immediate effect.

According to the statement, Prof. Omonzejie was appointed amongst the three names submitted by the Governing Council of the university to the state government.

The statement partly reads, “Professor (Mrs.) Eunice Eboserehimen Omonzejie
Professor Omonzejie is a distinguished scholar of French and Francophone African Literatures and a long-serving academic in the Department of Modern Languages at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

“She is a prolific researcher and editor, with contributions to African and Francophone literary studies, gender studies, and cultural studies.

“She has served as the President of the Ambrose Alli University Chapter of the National Association of Women Academics (NAWACS), where she has championed mentoring, research, and advocacy for female academics and students.

“Professor Omonzejie has co-edited several seminal works including French Language in Nigeria: Essays in Honour of UFTAN Pacesetters and Language Matters in Contemporary West Africa, and is the author of Women Novelists in Francophone Black Africa: Views, Reviews and Interviews,” the statement added.